Meet Omony Denish (Bomb), an Abaana's Hope Security Officer

In November 1988, Omony Denish was born amid the gunshots and bomb explosions of a rebel attack on his village in Uganda. His mother was in labor as his family fled the attack heading for the hospital, but they couldn’t make it in time for the delivery. His mother gave birth on the way, and he would soon receive the nickname "Bomb." Through a translator, Bomb explained he was given this name to remind him of the past. “It reminds me of how God has saved my life from certain danger,” he said.

By God’s grace, his parents and older siblings were able to escape the rebel attack and find refuge in a town nearby. However, this village was not safe from the rebels either. Many young people were abducted and recruited for the rebel army. Because of this, his family didn’t stay in the village, but instead hid in the bush, struggling to find food and shelter to survive. 

Growing up, Bomb and his siblings couldn’t go to school to receive an education because of the insurgency, the school was very far away, the road to get there was not in good condition, and his family couldn’t afford the school fees.

“We were left with no option other than to hide for our lives,” Bomb said. “My father told me and the other young children that the only thing he needs is for us to stay alive. There is no education. He wants us alive and that’s why we were in hiding.”

Bomb remembers nights when his family would hide in a body of water, and they would sleep there with only their heads above the waterline. His father was responsible for finding means of survival including food, firewood, and a source of income. Using a bicycle, he would travel to search the nearby village. To make some money, he would sell the firewood he could find. 

“We were just surviving by the grace of God,” Bomb said.

One day, when his father was leaving the village after selling firewood, he was attacked by the rebels and shot in the leg. Thinking they’d killed him, the rebels moved on, and Bomb’s father crawled to a hiding spot in the bush to wait for someone to come along and rescue him. Thankfully, others found him, picked him up, and took him to the hospital in Gulu. He stayed there recovering for about two months before returning to his family. Because Bomb and his family relied on his father to provide for them, this time was very difficult. When his father was released from the hospital, his wounded leg was paralyzed, and he would need a stick to help him walk for the rest of his life.

This disability meant it would be more difficult to support the family as he could not work. Bomb’s mother had no other option but to take the family to a displaced camp called Paicho Camp. Bomb, his nine brothers, and three sisters still could not attend school because of the expense, so they started working on farms to make some money. While working on a farm, Bomb remembers the rebels raiding the village and shooting at the farm workers. Paicho Camp was too far away, so when he heard gunshots, he’d run to hide in a bush.

Around 2006, when Bomb was about 18 years old, the Ugandan government declared it was safe for the people to return to their home villages. There were still some cases of insurgency and bomb blasts, but Joseph Kony’s rebels were starting to leave Uganda and the country was starting to stabilize. 

Bomb and his family returned to their home village, and in 2011, he married Ajok Brenda. Now, they’ve been blessed with four boys who currently are students at Living Stones Christian School - Rachkara Callos, Omara Jonathan, Nokrach Elvis, and Rwot-negeyo Elvis.

In 2014, the doctors delivered the news that Bomb’s father had cancer because of the gunshot wound, and a few months later, he passed away. Bomb was devastated by the loss and remembers this time as a turning point for his life.

“We had nowhere to go. I was confused where to go and who could help me. When your father is not there and you’re still a young man, it is a very difficult thing here,” Bomb said. “Here in the Acholi region, when your father is not there, they can deny you some of the privileges. They can decide not to give you some portion of land to use.”

That year, he accepted Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior. He was overwhelmed with the struggles he was facing and the burden he was carrying and realized his need for Jesus.

“I was listening to Mega FM, a radio station,” he said. “I heard from the radio somebody was preaching and giving testimony, which was similar to my condition, and giving hope to such a person through the Word of God. From that time, I started looking for a church nearby.”

Bomb made up his mind to accept Jesus, and he found Living Stones Community Church (LSCC) at Abaana’s Hope. He met Pastor Santo, who led him through the salvation prayer. Bomb confessed his sins to Jesus and became a believer. No one else in his entire family was a believer, and after he made the decision to follow Christ, they abandoned him. They told Bomb, “Let your salvation help you. Let it provide everything you need.” He no longer has a relationship with his relatives.

Bomb asked the pastors and elders of LSCC to pray that his wife would give her life to Christ. Sometime later, she made the decision to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Together with their four boys they became part of the Abaana’s Hope family through the church, school, and job opportunity. When Bomb has a problem, he goes to the leaders and pastors at Abaana's Hope for help, comfort, and council. He started working on the Abaana’s Hope farm, and a few years later, he was asked to join the security team. He started working as a security officer in 2019 and is responsible for protecting the people in the community and their property. 

While he still faces struggles in his life, he said he’s grateful to Jesus for saving him, and when things are difficult, he goes to the Word of God. One of the passages that encourages him the most is the book of Psalms.

“Stay faithful and trust Jesus at all times, having in mind that God knows all our conditions. Even in difficult times, God has not abandoned us, just as God has protected me through certain conditions through the insurgencies. God is still faithful,” Bomb said. “Sometimes difficulties come to help draw us to God, so we should have in mind that our only hope is in Christ. Our help comes from the Lord. Our salvation is him alone.”